High school student killed in head-on collision on Route 1A in Prospect

BELFAST, Maine — The driver and sole occupant of a car traveling north on Route 1A in Prospect was killed in a head-on collision with a dump truck Wednesday morning.

Chief Deputy Jeff Trafton of the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department said Owen Krause, 16, of Stockton Springs was killed in the crash. He was a junior at John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor. The crash was reported at 7:03 a.m.

The truck driver, Thomas Drew of Winterport, was taken by ambulance to Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast for treatment and later released. The truck he was driving was registered to Clisham Construction of Winterport.

Krause was driving a Lincoln four-door sedan, according to Deputy Ben Seekins’ report. Witnesses reported that the Lincoln veered suddenly into the opposite lane where the truck was traveling.

The collision occurred near the intersection of Route 1A and Muskrat Farm Road.

Faculty, staff and the school’s crisis team at John Bapst were informed of the student’s death midday Wednesday. An assembly was held in which students were told of the death. Students were encouraged to use school counseling services.

A local grief counseling team was contacted, and its members will be at the school Thursday, according to an email message sent to parents from Mel MacKay, head of school.

“This loss will be felt for a long time to come,” MacKay wrote. “Our deepest sympathies go out to Owen’s family and to his friends.”

In a news item about the assembly posted on the school’s website, John Bapst Cross Country Coach Joe Capehart is quoted saying, “Owen always looked on the positive, bright side of things. It could be pouring buckets, and he’d say, ‘Oh, the sun is going to come right out.’ He was a great teammate — very good natured, self-effacing, always willing to help out and lend a hand, and he’s going to be sorely missed.”

All afternoon activities at the school were canceled.

Correction:An early version of this story contained erroneous information from the Associated Press. The accident occurred Wednesday morning, not Monday.